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Friday, March 18, 2011

As noted here earlier this month, the jazz band from Webster Groves High School is traveling to New York City this week to perform, take part in workshops and master classes, and hear some live music. WGHS jazz band director Kevin Cole is reporting in from the road via email, and here's what he had to say about their first day in NYC:

"Our first day in NYC was just outstanding. After a day-long bus ride, we arrived in Manhattan at about midnight on Thursday night. A 9:30AM call time at Lincoln Center didn't afford the kids (and adults) much sleep, but trumpeter/composer Michael Philip Mossman predictably managed to grab their attention during a two-hour clinic (pictured). While Michael is beyond knowledgable in all jazz styles, we chose to focus on our tunes that played to his specialty, latin jazz.

After the clinic students and parents teamed up to roam about the Times Square/Hell's Kitchen areas, eating at distinctly-New York restaurants and shopping and some of the stores for which Times Square is known.

Our first evening in the city found us at The Garage, a Greenwich Village jazz club, where we saw Harlem gospel pianist Enoch Smith and his trio. Tomorrow is the day during which we have the most freedom, spending a good portion of the day walking in lower Manhattan. We're all looking forward to the students' first visit to the famed Blue Note Jazz Club tomorrow night, where we'll see Kenny Werner, Randy Brecker, David Sanchez, Scott Colley, and Antonio Sanchez. What a great city!"